Warthur
The Sword's first album was a solid piece of throwback metal; the very capable followup, Gods of the Earth, is a crushing stoner metal classic which manages to sound simultaneously ancient and modern. On the one hand, the recording and compositional approach taken here clearly draws on both the bands and the general thematic moods of the 1970s metal scene, whilst on the other hand they are no longer out to merely mimic old bands but seem determined to carve out their own sound. Raucous, rowdy, and fast, this is almost outside of the doom metal category altogether were it not for a few slow and punishing riffs here and there. Recommended for any doom or stoner metal fans who like a big dose of proto-metal on the side.